Moorpark College will be one of 12 regional sites to host the California Mayors Cyber Cup, (CMCC) a statewide cybersecurity contest for middle and high school students. Simultaneous regional competitions around the state create one virtual statewide event on Feb. 23 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Statewide, the CMCC is expected to attract more than 200 teams and 1,200 students in an effort to bring cybersecurity awareness to communities and to fuel the workforce pipeline in cybersecurity.

“We are proud to host this year’s CMCC regional competition,” shared Moorpark College President Luis Sanchez. “This is a great opportunity for local high school students to learn about the outstanding cybersecurity and technology programs Moorpark College offers as well as the promising careers available in this growing field.”

Teams of students will compete from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by lunch, a business and career showcase and presentations ending at 3:30. There’s no cost for students to register and no experience is necessary. Registration is due by Feb. 2. Teams can register online athttps://ca-cyberhub.org/resources/mayors-cyber-cup/.

Once registered, students and their coaches have access to online tools and practice sessions to prepare for the competition. The competition will engage students on a real-life cybersecurity threat scenario in which they will use technical skills, leading cyber practices and good cyber-hygiene habits.

The community is invited to attend the event starting at 1 p.m. for a briefing by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, chair of the Select Committee on Cybersecurity, and presentations from college officials on education and careers in cybersecurity. In addition, table-top round-robin sessions will feature businesses and educators discussing their work in IT and cybersecurity as well as career opportunities. Register for this free event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-california-mayors-cyber-cup-moorpark-college-registration-53755131044. A light lunch will be provided.

“This is a learning opportunity for students and the community,” said Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin. “The California Mayors Cyber Cup competitions foster the next generation of cybersecurity professionals by bringing together students with leaders in business, industry and government. This also educates the community on security issues and challenges.”

Businesses interested in participating in the round-robin or as an event sponsor should contact Nancy Mayerson,nancy@mayersonmarketing.com, for more information. Local sponsors include California State University, Channel Islands, and Moorpark College.

The California Mayors Cyber Cup is coordinated by California Cyberhub, an initiative of synED, a Thousand Oaks nonprofit collaboration of public and private education, local and state government and businesses, including the California Community Colleges, California State Universities, GO-Biz, California Department of Technology and Cal-CSIC.

Currently a pilot program, officials are hoping to grow the CMCC in the coming years as a way to:

improve cybersecurity by engaging the community in learning about the topic,

create a workforce pipeline for cybersecurity professionals,

showcase the career path, with community colleges and universities as the place to start, particularly for underrepresented populations,

engage public and private sectors in building an ecosystem for better cyber awareness, involving community, education, business and government with activities such as training and student competitions.

For more information on the California Mayors Cyber Cup, visit the California Cyberhub website at http://ca-cyberhub.org.